Even the smaller islands have some plant cover, with the larger ones dominated by ferns and moss. Flora on the archiplego includes many endemic species and many that have a broad circumpolar distribution in the South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans. Thus many of the species that occur in Tristan da Cunha occur as far away as New Zealand. For example the species Nertera depressa was first collected in Tristan da Cunha,[1] but has since been recorded in occurrence as far distant as New Zealand.[2]

Apart from Tristan da Cunha, which was settled as a base for whaling and sealing in the 18th century, the islands of the group are uninhabited except for a weather station on Gough Island belonging to South Africa. Fishing is still an important economic activity especially for crayfish and octopus but also the Tristan rock lobster(Jasus tristani). Gough Island has also been used as base for whaling and sealing but only ever temporarily. The islands do receive a small number of tourists.

Sheep and cattle have been introduced on Tristan da Cunha and their grazing, along with other human activity has caused damage to the island's ecosystems. Night fishing has caused the deaths of many seabirds as they crash into ships' lights.[3]